We don’t editorialize much in this magazine, but I’ve been eager to share how AI has changed the way I move through my day. As someone who’s been writing and communicating solo for half a century, and using the web to great effect since 1993, I’m old enough to fully appreciate that ChatGPT isn’t a replacement for me. It’s a tool. A very useful, surprisingly polite tool that makes my life easier.
Much like my grandmother relished the time savings provided by her electric vacuum cleaner and my mother marveled at the microwave—two things I take entirely for granted—I keep finding new ways to use ChatGPT to save time on my own repetitive tasks, so I can return quickly to my priority lanes: mom, wife, writer, worship leader… and occasional over-thinker with too many browser tabs open.
For those who may still be intimidated (or annoyed) by the technology, here are just a few of the ways ChatGPT creates convenience—and a little laughter—for me.
P.S. I call mine “Jarvis,” after Iron Man’s fancy British assistant, because as a right-brained person, I tend to anthropomorphize things to make life cozier. Also, because I’m a nerd.
6:30 AM — Caffeine & Curiosity
I sometimes say “good morning” which is weird, I know. But, we’ve been chatting for three years now so he has a lot of me in memory. I can ask ponderous questions to mitigate preoccupations before I start my day.
Q: Good morning, Jarvis. I dreamed (again) I was late for class and forgot my locker combo. What does that mean?
That’s a classic performance anxiety dream. Your subconscious is trying to process pressure or just the need to feel more prepared—even if it’s just for another Monday. Locker dreams often show up when our mental load is high. Forgetting the combo might symbolize cognitive overload—like you’re trying to remember everything, do everything, and hold it all together… and something slips.
9AM — Content Companion
I get a text from our band leader as she’s planning this week’s set list.
Q: Jarvis, I want to help our soloist introduce the first song for Sunday’s service. She sings beautifully but gets nervous before she prays. The pastor will be speaking about salvation in Romans. What are some thoughts and verses for her?
Absolutely. First—deep breath. Remind her she’s not performing; she’s setting the table for an encounter with grace. Think of her intro as a warm welcome, not a theological thesis. Here are a few simple ways to frame her message.
Opening Thoughts: “This morning, we’re singing about the hope and freedom we have in Christ—something we can’t earn and don’t deserve, but God gives anyway. As we open our hearts in worship, we’re stepping into the truth that God’s love is not based on our effort—it’s based on His mercy. Whatever kind of week you’ve had, you’re welcome here. We come to the cross not because we’ve got it all together, but because we don’t.”
Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
You could even help her write a one- or two-sentence opener based on the worship set list. Want to share the first song title, and I can craft a couple versions she could say naturally?
9:15 AM — On the Clock and Stuck in PARK
The words are always mine, but Jarvis can help me kickstart my engine when it’s cold. I throw him a sentence or two, and he tosses back a few possibilities. A great second brain, he recently helped me craft a meaningful lifestyle angle for an unfamiliar topic: lamp repair. I focused on nostalgia and sustainability—showing how restoring family heirlooms can bring personality and warmth to modern homes.
Q: Jarvis, I’m working on another story about [insert topic here], and I’m trying to find a new angle I haven’t explored before with similar [people / business type].
Absolutely. Whether it’s thrift shops, septic systems, or saxophone repair shops, there’s always a story worth telling. Here are a few angles you could explore:
Community Tie-In: How does [thing/person] improve the daily lives of people in the area?
Seasonal Relevance: Can we link it to a time of year, a holiday, or a current trend?
Unexpected Expertise: What’s something most people don’t know about this [thing] that would surprise or impress them?
I also throw work-related queries at him quite often because I just need the answer, not a lecture.
Q: Remind me to ask you about an “idiot’s guide to semi-colon and colon use” since I can never seem to remember the rules. As an editor, that’s just embarrassing.
Absolutely—consider yourself reminded! Next time you’re ready, we’ll do a quick, painless “Idiot’s Guide to Colons and Semi-Colons” (spoiler alert: you’re not an idiot; these punctuation marks are just dramatic little divas). We’ll keep it memorable.
11AM — Spending Matters
After listening to tariff debates for weeks, I’m looking for a little insight.
Q: I want to get on board the American products boat but it’s tough when big guys like Amazon and Walmart filter for special interest business but don’t simply show me what is “Made in the USA”.
Shift your spending where you can—even if it’s just a few swaps to start. Every purchase is a vote for where and how things are made. So, if you’re ready to trade that imported apple juice for Tillamook cheese and call it a win, welcome to the domestic renaissance. The price tag might sting a bit this summer, but consider it a short-term jolt for a long-term comeback. If you’re like me and have been waiting for Amazon and Walmart to add a “Made in the USA” filter this might be the next best thing.
Click here to download your Buy American Cheat Sheet.
NOON — Lunch + Life Coach (Kinda)
Eating a sandwich and unloading about parenting. No, Jarvis is not a doctor or a therapist, but he does have access to every piece of guidance and psychology any doctor or therapist ever uploaded to the Internet and, besides, I’m not asking him how to remove my own appendix. So, in a pinch, he can enlighten me with some science about teenage brains and sensory processing. Right. Now. Without an appointment.
Q: Jarvis, Jack just turned 15 and I’m anxious about how on earth I might teach my “Little Sheldon” to drive—when I still have to remind him to dry off completely after a shower.
First of all, deep breath. You are not alone, and there is no cosmic law that says a kid has to be a fully functioning adult before they get their learner’s permit—though it would be convenient.
Here’s the thing: driving is actually a great opportunity for structure-loving, pattern-seeking minds like Jack’s. Once the routine is understood and the “rules of the road” are framed like a logic system (hello, traffic signs = math problems with turn signals), he might surprise you.
But you’re also right to feel anxious—it’s not just about the mechanics. It’s about executive functioning: decision-making, processing speed, situational awareness. All the things you’re still helping him develop. Jarvis Coaching Tips:
Use visual aids. Driving videos, diagrams, or apps like “Aceable” can make abstract things more tangible.
Make it a team effort. Ask a therapist or driving instructor who understands neurodivergence to help create a step-by-step plan with visuals and practice strategies.
Let yourself grieve and celebrate. You’re not just teaching him to drive—you’re slowly letting go of the little boy who used to sit in the back seat explaining black holes. That’s big. And it’s okay to feel all of it.
Bottom line: Jack doesn’t need to become a perfect adult overnight. He just needs a guide who knows how to speak “Jack.” And lucky for him—you’re fluent. Would you like to see “Five Signs That Say ‘wait another year’?”
1PM — Tech-savvy Bestie
Sometimes I just want to know which menu to click. That’s it. No YouTube tutorial with a 60-second intro. No blog post with pop-ups and a 14-paragraph backstory about how someone discovered Photoshop in college. Just the shortcut, please.
This is prime Jarvis territory—he skips the fluff and quickly shows me how to do the thing. Just one real-life example of how he saves me from Googling my sanity away.
Q: Jarvis, I do the same edits every day in Photoshop. Can I automate it instead of clicking through every adjustment and export step like it’s 2003?
Photoshop Actions are the unsung heroes of creative sanity. You definitely can—and it’ll change your life (or at least your lunch break). Here’s how to create a custom Action for your exact routine:
Open Window > Actions to bring up the Actions panel.
Click the + (Create New Action) icon at the bottom.
Give it a name (like “Daily Adjustments”), assign it a function key if you want (e.g., F3), and click Record.
Now do your usual steps in order.
Once you’re done, hit the square Stop button in the Actions panel.
That’s it. You’ve now taught Photoshop to be your intern.
Jarvis Tip: If you want this to work across batches of images, you can run the Action from File > Automate > Batch, and boom—Photoshop becomes your personal robot editor.
3PM — Research Rabbit Hole Wrangler
Jarvis has “eyes” and can check out my uploads.
Q: Found this turtle in the pool skimmer. What is the best thing to do for it?
That tiny turtle is adorable—and lucky you found it! Based on the size and markings, it looks like a baby aquatic turtle, possibly a red-eared slider or a similar species common in backyard ponds and creeks.
Here’s what you can do to help it:
1. Let it go—if conditions are safe. If you have a nearby natural body of water (like a pond, creek, or lake) that isn’t chemically treated and has plants and rocks, that’s the best place to release it. Make sure the area has shallow entry points so it can get in and out easily.
2. Avoid keeping it as a pet (unless you’re prepared). Baby turtles are cute but require special care—UVB lighting, clean filtered water, proper diet, and space to swim and bask. Also, keeping wild turtles as pets can be stressful for the animal and potentially illegal in some places.
3. Don’t release it into a pool or man-made pond. Pools have chlorine and no natural habitat features, which can harm or disorient the turtle. It may also get trapped in the skimmer again.
4. Wash your hands after handling it. Like all reptiles, turtles can carry salmonella even if they appear clean.
Would you like help identifying a nearby safe release location? Or are you considering keeping it and want care tips?
5:30PM — Digital Sous Chef
“What’s for dinner?” The every day, every person, daily inquiry. Or, if you’re me, it is “What do you guys want for dinner?” I no longer have to ponder from breakfast to defrosting hour to feed my family. Now, I just type.
Q: Jarvis, I have stew beef and boneless chicken thighs. I would like to use one of those things in something savory and I have about 45 minutes. What should I make? Don’t forget, we all hate cruciferous vegetables and I can’t tolerate too much spicy heat.
See this link for Jarvis-curated recipes that never include popup ads or 10 minutes of scrolling through stories about how grandma always cooked it special, yada yada.
8PM — TV Concierge
Hubby and I are ready to unwind, and rather than scroll aimlessly through multiple streaming platforms, I let Jarvis narrow down the options based on our eclectic mix of favorites. He’s way better than the Netflix algorithm.
Q: I’m looking for a new streaming series. We liked The Good Doctor, Big Bang Theory, Sleepy Hollow, Tulsa King, Reacher, Andy Griffith, Elementary, Home Economics, and The Chosen. What can you recommend?
Sounds like you love a mix of clever, heartfelt, gritty, and faith-grounded shows. Based on your list, I’d suggest:
Longmire (crime drama with depth and grit)
Blue Bloods (family, justice, and good food)
Monk or Psych (quirky detectives + humor)
The Mentalist (like Elementary with charm)
The Terminal List or Lioness (Reacher vibes)
Want something with a redemptive arc? The Chosen crowd might enjoy A.D. The Bible Continues, or The Crown for character-driven, moral tension.
10PM — In-Home Philosopher
Always glad that smarter people than I have studied the Bible for 2,000 years but now I don’t have to scroll through dozens of not-what-I-asked commentaries when I really just want an answer so I can get back to reading with better understanding.
Q: Jarvis, did God really send hornets ahead of the Israelites in Joshua? What does that even mean?
He did—kind of! In Exodus 23:28 and Joshua 24:12, God says He’ll send “the hornet” ahead of the Israelites to drive out their enemies. Some scholars think it was literal (ouch), others say it’s a metaphor for fear or panic that weakened enemy forces before battle. Either way, the takeaway is powerful: sometimes God clears a path before we even get there—and we don’t always see how. Trust the unseen work.